Abstract: Autoimmune diseases are the consequence of complex interactions between a mosaic of host genetic factors and etiologic elements. Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease prevalent in 1% of the general population, but is unique on two accounts; a) the majority (90%) of individuals with CD have the HLA class II DQ2 allele, the others HLA-DQ8 and b) the etiologic agent is gluten proteins from wheat and related prolamins in barley and rye. The disease process is generally considered to be mediated by T cells that recognize HLA-DQ2 specific peptide sequences in gluten. There is currently no therapeutic treatment for CD. To this end, the inventors have identified a novel therapeutic target for CD and innate immune pathways in other inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: A method for spatial uniformity control in thin film processing is devised which is applicable to any film quality (thickness, composition, microstructure, electrical properties, etc.) as well as to all deposition systems (CVD, PVD, etch, ALD, etc.) where the substrate is rotated to improve uniformity of the deposited thin films. The technique is based on identifying the subspace of all deposition profiles on the stationary substrate that produce uniform films under rotation and then projecting a deposition profile to be controlled onto a sequence of uniformity—producing basis functions spanning that subspace to determine the Nearest Uniformity Producing Profile (NUPP). The process parameters as well as reactor design are optimized in order to minimize uniformity optimization criterion defined as a deviation of a produced deposition profile on the stalled substrate from the NUPP.

Abstract: A method and assay are described for determining prostate cancer and the general stage of progression of such cancer by quantifying levels of expression of different galectin isoforms and/or different levels of promoter methylation of such galectin isoforms.

Abstract: CXCR3 is identified as a physiological receptor for Gliadin. Assays for determining modulators of CXCR3 signaling are provided. Fragments of gliadin which function as inhibitors of CXCR3 signaling can be determined. Methods for treating diseases relating to gluten and/or autoimmunity by targeting CXCR3 are provided. Such diseases include celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, gluten allergy, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, immune-mediated or type 1 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, scleroderma, and autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for directing magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents to a target volume, or for guiding magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents from a first target volume to a second target volume, at a distance using a magnetic field, to enable the treatment of diseased areas including areas deep inside a patient's body. The methods may be used to diagnose or treat diseased areas within a patient, for example tumors of the lungs, intestines, and liver, and is also useful in enhancing the permeability of solid tumors to chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of a muscular dystrophy or myopathy. The present inventors have found that the quantity of mu-crystallin is increased in a muscular dystrophy. In particular, the inventors have found that mu-crystallin is increased in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Based on the inventors' findings, the invention provides a novel means for the treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of a muscular dystrophy or myopathy.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of increasing the half-life factor VIII. More specifically, the invention methods of increasing the half-life of factor VIII by substituting amino acids in the A2 domain or in the C2 domain of factor VIII or in both domains. It further provides factor VIII mutants produced by these methods. The invention also provides a method of using receptor-associated protein (RAP) to increase the half-life of factor VIII. The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the mutant factor VIII, polynucleotides encoding RAP, and methods of treating hemophilia using the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention.

Abstract: A method and kit for determining the quantity of an analyte include providing a functionalized substrate and a reagent. The functionalized substrate includes metallic nanoparticles and a plurality of substantively identical bioactive target molecules affixed to a substrate. The bioactive target molecule binds to a particular analyte. The reagent includes identical detection molecules. Each detection molecule includes a fluorophore, and binds to a particular analyte or competes with a particular analyte for binding to the target molecule. The functionalized substrate is contacted to a test sample and the reagent. The functionalized substrate and a covering solution are exposed to polarized electromagnetic waves that excite the fluorophore. A quantity of the particular analyte in the test sample is determined based on measuring polarization anisotropy of fluorescent emissions from the substrate and the covering solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multivalent HIV inhibitors that bind to multiple sites on a trimeric gp120 complex thereby blocking the CD4 binding site on the trimeric gp120 complex and inhibiting the attachment and entry of HIV through gp120-CD4 interactions.

Abstract: Compounds linked to a solid support through a divalent linker moiety are disclosed. In particular, compounds such as 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid are directly linked to the support under mild conditions (i.e., in aqueous or organic solvents at neutral pH and at room temperature). The polymer bound 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid can be used for the derivatization of amines as well as for single step amino group modification of proteins, peptides, and amines via acylation or sulfonylation reactions. A flow through device and method for the single step amino group modifications of proteins, peptides, and amines is disclosed. Also disclosed is a flow through device for the detection of amines in a sample. Additionally, a device and method for the detection of amines in a sample using 1-hydroxybenzotriazole-6-carboxylic acid are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device is used to detect the presence of amines in a spoiled meat product.

Abstract: Completely automated end-to-end method and system for markerless motion capture performs segmentation of articulating objects in Laplacian Eigenspace and is applicable to handling of the poses of some complexity. 3D voxel representation of acquired images are mapped to a higher dimensional space (k), where k depends on the number of articulated chains of the subject body, so as to extract the 1-D representations of the articulating chains. A bottom-up approach is suggested in order to build a parametric (spline-based) representation of a general articulated body in the high dimensional space followed by a top-down probabilistic approach that registers the segments to an average human body model. The parameters of the model are further optimized using the segmented and registered voxels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bonding two surfaces to one another. The invention particularly pertains to the use of such method in which one of the surfaces is a polymeric plastic (and more preferably a polymeric thermoplastic (especially poly-(methyl methacrylate) (“PMMA”) or cyclic olefin copolymer (“COC”)). More particularly, the invention relates to treating at least one of the contacting surfaces with UV in the presence of oxygen to thereby generate ozone (O3) and atomic oxygen under conditions of temperature below that of the glass transition temperature of the polymeric plastic. The UV/O3-mediated bonding results in high bond strength and zero-deformation method. This bonding method can be applied to micro/nano-scale polymer devices, and particularly to microfluidic devices, for a low cost, high throughput, high yield advantage.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a radiation therapy method, and in particular, to a method of conducting an intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT). The invention provides a planning technique that translates traditional static fixed-field IMRT plans into deliverable IMAT plans and allows IMAT to be realized as a routine clinical delivery technique.

Abstract: Vibrio cholerae accessory cholera enterotoxin (ACE) activates a calcium dependent chloride channel. Ace and Ace analogs can be administered to patients to treat diseases involving defects in chloride secretion by the cystitis fibrosis transmembrane receptor (CFTR). Cystic fibrosis, Dent's disease, X-linked nephrolithiasis, X-linked recessive hypophosphatemic rickets, autosomal dominant myotonia congenita and autosomal recessive general myotonia can be treated by the administration of Ace or an Ace analog. For cystic fibrosis, administration of Ace or an Ace analog increases chloride secretion in the lungs which increases the amount of airway surface water in the lumen of the lungs.

Abstract: A crutch-like mobility assist device includes a vertical support assembly, an underarm support mechanism, and a rotatable footer assembly, the rotatable footer assembly including an elongated ground-engaging foot pad, attachment members connected to the foot pad and having vertical posts, and an elongated connection member with openings through which the vertical posts extend. The connection member includes respective pairs of support blocks on opposite sides of the vertical posts with bores therethrough for shafts that also extend through the posts to enable the posts (and thus the foot pad) to laterally rotate around the shafts. The foot pads can come into parallel contact with the ground even when the vertical support to which it is connected is laterally oriented by the user. Torsion springs connected to the posts will return the posts to a central orientation relative to the connection member when the foot pad is lifted off the ground by the user.

Abstract: Peptide antagonists of zonulin are disclosed, as well as methods for the use of the same. The peptide antagonists bind to the zonula occludens receptor, yet do not physiologically modulate the opening of mammalian tight junctions.

Abstract: A method and assay are described for determining prostate cancer and the general stage of progression of such cancer by quantifying levels of promoter methylation of gal-3, optionally in combination with the quantification of the level of GSTP1 promoter methylation, where the method and assay are non-invasive to a subject and can detect any of Stages I-IV prostate cancer.

Abstract: Methods for modulated degenerative transfer living polymerization and isotactic-atactic stereoblock and stereogradient poly(olefins) thereby Abstract A method of producing a multiblock, stereoblock polyolefin having substantially uniform microstructure is disclosed. The method includes contacting a Ziegler-Natta pre-catalyst with a co-catalyst and an olefin to polymerize the olefin and form a first stereoblock, adding a methyl donator that changes the stereoregularity of the polymerization, and polymerizing the olefin to form a second stereoblock. The methods of the present invention allow for the production of poly(olefin)s having predictable degrees of incorporation of stereoerrors of a known type. The methods allows for the production of a variety of poly(olefin) microstructures, ranging from stereoblock to stereogradient poly(olefin)s and poly(olefin)s having fully isotactic to fully atactic microstructures.

Abstract: The present application relates to apparatus for sampling and analysis of analytes in a liquid sample. A liquid sample is pre-concentrated using a chromatographic column prior to analysis via a two stage analysis apparatus. A high-performance liquid chromatography system with ultra violet detection may be used in conjunction with electrochemical detection for the analysis of environmental contaminants, including explosive residues. The present invention also provides for on-site analysis of such contaminants. The present invention also provides for methods of analyzing the components of a liquid sample, including methods for on-site analysis.

Abstract: A lightweight compact self-contained microchannel heat exchanger includes a multi-sided heat transfer member having an array of parallel microgrooves (or rows of micropins) on each of the side, and positioned in thermal contact with the heat generating object to be cooled. A fluid distribution unit having a developed system of feed channels and exhaust channels is mounted to the micropatterned surface for guiding an incoming cold working fluid to remove heat from the microgrooves (or micropins). The heat exchanging device includes in one embodiment a pair of double-sided heat transfer plates having an array of microgrooves extending on each of its opposed surfaces, the fluid distribution unit being sandwiched between the double-sided heat transfer plates. The heat transfer plates and distribution units may be stacked to form a multi-layered cooling system with improved pressure drop and increased heat transfer efficiency.